Sam Filmus
President & Managing Director, Keeper of the Quaich
Sam Filmus is the passionate and approachable president of ImpEx Beverages (an Importer of fine spirits from around the world) and JVS Imports (a California Distribution company). He has done what many of us aspire to in life, take a passion for something and turn it into a career.
While Sam does handle public relations, product selection, sales and marketing, logistics, and social media you will always find him hard at work, happy to do anything for the success of his staff, his customers, and the consumers who love his products… we have even caught him in the warehouse or behind the wheel of a forklift.
Sam received his Whisky Certification from the University of the Highlands and Islands Moray College early on in his career but to him his true education came from the real world and the things he has learned along the way. He was bestowed the honor of being inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich in 2018, a lifetime achievement well respected by many in the industry. Even with this title, you will find Sam to be both humble and willing to share his knowledge with anyone who will listen. He feels that educating people about the unique story behind each brand and the passion of the people involved in creating these wonderful spirits is more important than anything and loves to share this with those he meets whether at a tasting or just walking down the aisle of a store. He is never too busy to answer a question or strike up a conversation with those he meets.
More than two decades of honing his craft have made him a wealth of knowledge but he will tell you that the real honor is meeting so many of the people in this industry he has learned from and shared with.
Read more about Sam in this interview with Piotr of Whisky My Life
Chris Uhde
Vice President
As ImpEx Beverages’ Vice President, Chris has proven to be gifted in sales, marketing, and business operations by managing the needs of exclusive specialty accounts up to large scale region-wide programs. In addition to his role at ImpEx, Chris is Whisky Expert for the United Scottish Society of Southern California.
Chris is responsible for blending whiskies for the US for many of our brands from Japan. He is also responsible for the Rum and Mezcal selections you’ll find in The ImpEx Collection.
You can find Chris traveling throughout the country educating retailers, bartenders, and consumers about the process of making and drinking fine spirits with his infectious style and passion.
Mary Barthelt
National Sales Manager
Mary joined the ImpEx team in 2022. A 20+ year service industry veteran, Mary loves spirits and creating cocktails, something she loves to share with others.
Mary is very passionate about learning and then educating others, she finds herself at home in front of a crowd and really enjoys the light in people’s eyes as they discover something new or interesting about a spirit type or specific brand.
In her spare time, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and checking out exciting new venues in her home state of IL. If you see her around town, be sure to ask her if there’s a spot she’d recommend and a cocktail you have to try!
Jared Card
District Manager, Mid Atlantic Region
Jared has been in the alcohol industry for 20+ years, spending a decade in retail and wholesale and then joining the ImpEx team.
He started in the Mid Atlantic region which at the time included Delaware, Maryland, and Washington DC. His heartfelt passion and tenacious work ethic helped his territory quickly expand to include Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Jared was a trailblazer in these states as this was ImpEx’s first time doing business in those markets.
Jared has developed quite the following with his fun and informative events, and he continues to do countless classes and seminars all over the Mid Atlantic. Connoisseurs, whisky geeks, and anyone who just wants to learn about whisky and see what the buzz is all about always leave his tastings with digestible knowledge and a smile!
Jared serves the AR, DE, DC, MD, OH, PA, and SC Markets.
Brian Dvoret
Executive Sales Manager
Brian has been involved in the Scotch Whisky Industry for over 20 years. Brian and his family now reside in Chandler Arizona.
Before joining ImpEx, Brian was the National Brand Ambassador for Speyside Distillery and Scott’s Independent Bottling Company. He has been involved in many Scotch Events from Seminars to Whisky Live/Whisky and Barrel Nite (Chicago, Dallas, Pleasanton, New York) to the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. Brian is very passionate about Cigar and Whisky pairings!
Brian loves teaching about and exploring distilleries around the world. Along with many expeditions to Scotland, he has even been to Lark Distillery in Hobart, Tasmania. Having given over 100 seminars on Whisky, Brian loves to spread understanding and a love for the stories behind the spirit!
Brian serves the AK, AZ, CO, MI, NM, and NV Markets.
Gary Clark
Territory Sales Manager – Texas
Gary has represented ImpEx since 2010 as a broker. He fully joined the team in 2022. He began his journey in the alcohol business in 1987 and has worked on-premise, retail, wholesale, and supplier tiers in sales and management roles over the years. He claims to have sold almost every major brand in the last 36 years.
He is an enthusiastic spirits educator. He has achieved Level 3 Spirits and Level 3 Sake with the WSET and is a WSET Sprits instructor. He teaches classes in his spare time at the Texas Wine School in Houston.
Gary has written 2 editions of the Japanese Whisky Handbook. In 2020 he released the Whiskey Tasting Journal Bourbon & Rye, to help educate people on what flavors to look for in a glass of Bourbon and where those flavors originate.
He is currently working on a Scotch Whisky book that will give glimpses behind the curtain.
Gary has an extensive whisk(e)y collection of open bottles. He can be found online as the Whiskyvert (think introvert or extrovert but with whisky).
Gary was born in Scotland but raised in Texas, and if the weather is not too hot you might find him in a Kilt. After a lifetime in the beverage alcohol business, he has a story or two if you have time.
Melissa Ginzburg
Midwestern Regional Sales Manager
Originally from Iowa, and having spent time living in Japan, Melissa now resides in the heart of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. She has a number of years of experience in the spirits industry including time spent distilling and bottling.
Melissa specializes in hosting events, education, and menu creations showcasing the phenomenal spirits of the ImpEx catalogue.
Melissa serves the KS, MN, MO, NE, and WI Markets.
Kevin Obis
Territory Sales Manager
Kevin started his career in the beverage industry as a craft cocktail bartender, honing his skills for cocktails and conversation in some of Seattle’s best bars. During his time there he grew to love and appreciate the simplicity of a dram of scotch, perhaps with just a splash of water.
Kevin joined ImpEx in 2020, eager to bring his enthusiasm for Single Malt whiskies and their stories to the people of the Pacific Northwest in a new and exciting way.
In 2024, Kevin returned to his hometown in IL and now serves the Midwest with the same passion and enthusiasim he brought to the Pacific Northwest.
Kevin serves the IL, IN, KY, and WI Markets.
Robert Sickler
Southeast Sales Manager
Robert Sickler, a 20 year veteran of the Wine & Spirits industry, spends his days organizing whisky tastings, seminars, and spirited dinners to introduce people to all things whisky. Trained in all aspects of whisky by experts at some of the world’s most famous distilleries, Sickler takes pride in converting new whisky enthusiasts “one dram at a time.”
Before discovering a career in whisky, Sickler worked as an English teacher for 9 years; however, his passion for wine and spirits made him change course. He became a veteran of the wine and spirits world, working as bartender, distributor salesperson, brand ambassador, bar owner, restauranteur, and spirits consultant. 10 years of his spirits career were spent working as a Master of Whisky with global drinks company Diageo, where he developed a reverence for all aspects of the whisky world. In recent years he opened Finn’s Manor, a whisky-centric cocktail bar in Denver, CO, which received numerous accolades for its whisky and cocktail program. In 2021 Sickler decided to return to Florida, starting a new chapter in his home state.
Robert loves to share his passion with the people he meets and his focus on education makes him a great asset no matter what your experience with spirits.
Robert serves the FL, GA, MS, and TN Markets.
Brian Mura
Territory Sales Manager
Brian comes to ImpEx with a proven track record with Westland Distillery and Remy Cointreau where he was instrumental in product launches, tastings & events, building and developing programs, and fostering growth and relationships across all lines of business.
A native of Washington, Brian brings this expertise to lovers of ImpEx products across the Pacific Northwest with enthusiasm and a zest for the stories behind each of our brands.
Brian currently serves the OR and WA Markets.
Brian Scardino
Sales & Education Specialist
Brian is a veteran salesman of the beverage industry. He has worked on both the suppler side and distributor side of the business, and has sold Spirits, Wine and Beer across the Greater Boston and New England area.
Brian is passionate about sharing the stories and histories of brands through tastings and education. Whether it is at an in-store event or at the kitchen table with friends and family, he loves to introduce people to different and exciting liquids, connecting through storytelling and – as the Irish say – a bit of the craic.
Outside of work Brian enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters, and their dog, Baxter. He is a diehard fan of his beloved Boston sports teams and an avid record collector.
Brian serves the New England territory – MA, ME, NH, RI, & VT.
Bob Couto
Territory Sales Manager
Bob is a 20+ year industry veteran who started his career in operations at a distributor as a summer job. He shifted into merchandising, then sales, and never looked back. His passion for the industry led him through roles with both suppliers and wholesalers (as well as some side jobs in both the on and off premise).
Bob joined ImpEx in 2024 eager to bring his passion for leading people to explore and learn about the portfolio. He brings his enthusiasm for drawing out what others are looking for and guiding them to that ideal experience. He enjoys sharing the stories behind the liquid and conveying the passion that built each brand.
Bob serves the New England territory – CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, & VT.
Matt Collins
Sales & Education Specialist
Starting as a bartender for some of Manhattan’s biggest names, Matt began his carreer in the industry. Later moving into a managerial role where he was in charge of beverage programs and menu curation, it became clear to him that he wanted to make his career on the other side of the bar
Initially joining NYC’s premiere beer distributor, after honing his skills in craft beer sales Matt moved into spirit sales where he has continued to soak up as much knowledge as he could.
Over a decade later, in 2024, Matt joined ImpEx Beverages where his combined love of travel, of visiting the sources of many of the worlds producers, and his pure passion for the industry serve him well in his new role.
Matt serves the NY and NJ Markets.
Chimney
Head of Quality Control
Chimney is our friendly, social, energetic, and playful Head of Quality Control. Perpetually curious, Chimney spends his days observing the happenings at ImpEx Beverages with a keen attention to detail, ensuring that no steps are missed to bring the people who love the spirits we import a product inspired, crafted, and delivered with care and a commitment to quality.
When Chimney isn’t in the warehouse you can find him in San Francisco, introducing our brands to the community.